Liberty advances to the WNBA Finals after toppling defending champion Aces
LAS VEGAS – The New York Liberty has been waiting almost 12 months for this. From the moment Courtney Vandersloot’s jumper was fouled in the waning seconds of Game 4 of the 2023 Finals, the Liberty chased revenge, a chance to redeem themselves after a lost opportunity and to close the score against the Las Vegas Aces to equalize.
“Remember what it feels like,” coach Sandy Brondello said earlier in the series. “It’s a thing of the past. but we don’t forget how we felt at that moment. So if you need motivation, remember how you felt after game 4.”
The chance for redemption came a round earlier than expected, meaning New York still fell short of the ultimate prize. But after saying they had accomplished nothing in recent weeks, the Liberty accomplished one goal on Sunday: They dethroned the two-time defending champions.
This was personal for New York, who referred to the Aces’ nonsense after winning their title in 2023. The Liberty won’t consider this season a success unless they win three more games – they can’t, as they have a year had already been through to the finals ago – but the emotions flowed nonetheless.
“I have receipts of the things that were said, the whole team does,” Breanna Stewart said.
After struggling in the elimination loss this time last year, Stewart led the way in the encore with 19 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and four blocks. In a tense, arrhythmic Game 4 Sunday, New York kept the Aces at bay all afternoon before pulling away on a 16-2 run in the fourth quarter to prevail 76-62 and win the semifinals. The Liberty advance to the WNBA Finals for the sixth time in franchise history, while the Aces fall short of a title for the first time since Becky Hammon took over as coach.
New York entered Michelob ULTRA Arena and took over this game from the home team. After a Jackie Young 3-pointer to open proceedings, the Liberty went on a 10-0 run and never trailed again. The Aces came within one point a few times, but could never get over the hump. New York’s veterans always found a way to end the rally, whether it was Jonquel Jones sinking a three-pointer, Vandersloot blasting her way to the basket or Stewart hitting an impossible runner with her endless arms.
Sloot has the moves! 🏃♀️ Big bucket as she makes her way to the edge.
NYL leads by 8 in the 4Q.
📺 Liberty Aces on ABC | #WNBAPlayoffs presented by @Google pic.twitter.com/2D3KiCOavp
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 6, 2024
Liberty’s length scared Las Vegas all night, as the Aces even saw shadows on open shots. Young wouldn’t hit another basket the rest of the evening — her only potential came on a halfcourt heave after the buzzer in the third quarter — and Las Vegas shot 21 of 64 from the field, including 7 of 30 on 3s. Three of those came in the final 3:20 when the Aces were already down 14 and running out of time to complete the comeback. At that point, the home fans left the building with the New York faithful behind their bench to cheer their return to the finals.
Before the series started, Las Vegas admitted that the Liberty had been the best team all year, and Hammon reiterated that after the game.
“Their group deserved it, they deserved it all year,” Hammon said. “(That) team was put together to take us out, and they did.”
Required reading
(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
